Canna plant named ‘Fire Dragon’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Canna  plant named ‘Fire Dragon’ that is characterized by a semi-dwarf habit, mid-green foliage, and pure scarlet flowers which are open faced, long-lived, self-cleaning, and attractively arranged within the inflorescence, is disclosed

Genus and species: Canna×generalis.

Variety denomination: ‘Fire Dragon’.

BACKGROUND OF THE NEW PLANT

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Canna,also known as Canna Lily or Indian Shot, which is grown as an ornamentalannual or perennial, according to climate zone, for use in plantedcontainers and in the garden and landscape. The new cultivar is knownbotanically as Canna×generalis, and will be referred to hereinafter bythe cultivar name ‘Fire Dragon’.

A Canna breeding program was carried out in Las Cruces, N. Mex. since1996. The aim of the breeding program is to develop new dwarf orsemi-dwarf canna varieties in various flower colors and foliage colors,with well-formed inflorescences consisting of flowers which areself-cleaning.

‘Fire Dragon’ arose and was selected in 2002 as an open-pollinatedseedling whose male parent is unknown and whose female parent is Canna‘The President’ (unpatented). The open-pollination was conducted on theinventor's property in Las Cruces, N. Mex.

‘Fire Dragon’ was first asexually reproduced in Las Cruces, N. Mex. in2002. Asexual propagation was accomplished by division of the rhizome.Since that time, under careful observation, the distinguishingcharacteristics of ‘Fire Dragon’ have been determined stable anduniform, and to reproduce true to type in successive generations ofasexual propagation via division of the rhizome.

SUMMARY

The distinguishing characteristics of ‘Fire Dragon’ are as follows.‘Fire Dragon’ has not been tested under all possible conditions andphenotypic differences may be observed with variations in environmental,climatic, and cultural conditions.

-   -   1. ‘Fire Dragon’ is semi-dwarf, achieving a height 75 cm to 90        cm in one year of growth in a 2-gallon container, and 120 cm to        150 cm as a mature plant in the ground.    -   2. ‘Fire Dragon’ exhibits early basal branching, giving rise to        a fuller display in containers and in the landscape.    -   3. The foliage of ‘Fire Dragon’ is mid-green in color.    -   4. The inflorescence of ‘Fire Dragon’ are scarlet in color,        without any other coloration present in any part of the        inflorescence.    -   5. Each flower (actually, staminode cluster) of ‘Fire Dragon’ is        long-lived, remaining attached to the inflorescence for 7 to 10        days.    -   6. The old flowers of ‘Fire Dragon’ fall away from the        inflorescence without lodging within, that is, the flowers are        self-cleaning.    -   7. The inflorescence of ‘Fire Dragon’ becomes large and showy,        consisting of 8 to 10 open flowers before the oldest flower        falls away.    -   8. The flowers of ‘Fire Dragon’ are open faced and attractively        arranged within the inflorescence.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying color photographs illustrate the overall appearance of‘Fire Dragon’ showing the color of the inflorescence and the foliage astrue as it is reasonably possible to obtain in colored reproductions ofthis type. Both photographs were taken in April 2014.

FIG. 1 depicts a nine-month old plant of ‘Fire Dragon’ which has beengrown in a 2-gallon container outdoors in Oxnard, Calif. The plant hasbeen grown without any chemical growth retardant. This photograph showsthe early basal branching of ‘Fire Dragon’.

FIG. 2 depicts a close-up view of the inflorescence of ‘Fire Dragon’. Inthis photograph, six flowers (actually staminodes) are fully developedwith approximately twelve further buds in various stages of development.

DESCRIPTION OF THE NEW VARIETY

In the following botanical description, all color references are made toThe Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, 2007 Edition, except wheregeneral terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

The plant used for this botanical description was five-months old from atissue cultured division and had been grown in a 2-gallon containeroutdoors in Oxnard, Calif. Botanical descriptions were taken in April2014.

-   Botanical classification: Genus and species.—Canna×generalis.-   Parentage: Open-pollination between an unknown male parent and Canna    ‘The President’ (unpatented) as female parent.-   Plant:    -   -   Propagation.—By division of field-grown rhizomes or by            division of tissue cultured plants.        -   Cultural suggestions.—In common with Cannas generally, ‘Fire            Dragon’ is evergreen in warm climates, but will die back as            winter approaches in cool climates. Rhizomes may be mulched            to protect from light frost but should be lifted and stored            if the ground is liable to freeze below the surface.        -   Hardiness.—‘Fire Dragon’ is hardy and evergreen in USDA Zone            8.        -   Heat tolerance.—Plants grow and flower rapidly in sunny            positions.        -   Pest and disease resistance or susceptibility.—‘Fire Dragon’            has not been found to be more or less resistant or            susceptible to the pests and diseases which affect the genus            and its cultivars, of which Canna yellow mosaic virus, Canna            yellow streak virus and Canna yellow mottle virus are            endemic in many Canna plants in the landscape.        -   Plant form.—Upright with one or more basal branch shoots.        -   Rhizome description.—Thick, fibrous, 3 cm to 5 cm in            diameter, with papery scales which are light brown 166C in            color when first forming, becoming dark brown 200B as they            age and peel away from the rhizome whose revealed surface is            smooth, cream 11D.        -   Plant height after one year in a 2-gallon container.—75 cm            to 90 cm (including inflorescence).        -   Plant spread.—40 cm to 50 cm.-   Stem (each basal shoot, to base of inflorescence):    -   -   Length.—35 cm to 45 cm.        -   Diameter.—1.5 cm.        -   Internode length.—7 cm to 12 cm.        -   Stem strength.—The stem is firm and fleshy towards base,            becoming very hard and stiff towards the inflorescence.        -   Texture.—Slightly rough with longitudinal ribs towards base,            smooth towards inflorescence.        -   Color.—144C at the base, N79A above the highest leaf.-   Foliage:    -   -   Form.—Simple and entire.        -   Leaf arrangement.—Alternate.        -   Leaf length.—30 cm to 32 cm.        -   Leaf width.—14 cm to 17 cm.        -   Shape.—Ovate.        -   Apex.—Acute.        -   Base.—Obtuse.        -   Margin.—Entire.        -   Surface texture (both surface).—Glabrous.        -   Leaf structure.—Leaf is supported by a stiff depressed            midrib and by raised parallel lateral ribs which are spaced            approximately 1 cm apart.        -   Venation.—Pinnate.        -   Vein color (both surfaces).—138B.        -   Leaf color (both surfaces).—138A.        -   Petioles.—Arrangement: Sheathing. Length: 10 cm. Texture:            Glabrous, ribbed. Color, upper surface: 144C. Color, lower            surface: 144C becoming 59C where petiole is exposed to full            sun.-   Inflorescence:    -   -   Form.—Terminal raceme consisting of 14 to 18 flowers.        -   Height (fully developed).—25 cm to 30 cm.        -   Diameter (fully developed).—20 cm.        -   Bract.—Raceme is subtended by single paper-like bract.        -   Bract shape.—Cymbiform.        -   Bract dimensions.—9 cm in length, 2.5 cm in width.        -   Bract color.—Adaxial surface 59C, abaxial surface N144A.        -   Peduncle.—Dimensions: 12 cm in length, 1.0 cm in diameter.            Strength: Hard and very stiff. Texture: Glabrous. Color:            N79A.-   Flower:    -   -   Overall description.—Flower is complex, comprised of three            short bracteoles subtending calyx of three short waxy sepals            and three narrow petals. The showy elements of the flower            are modified petaloid stamens or staminodes of which three            outer staminodes are large and wide, and a fourth is narrow            and recurving (labellum). A fifth (inner) staminode bears a            lone marginal anther and is adjacent to a long slender            petaloid style.        -   Natural flowering season.—Continually from late spring until            fall.        -   Flower longevity on the plant.—7 to 10 days.        -   Flower fragrance.—None.        -   Flower dimensions.—5.5 cm in height, 8 cm to 9 cm in width.        -   Pedicels.—Dimensions: 0.8 cm in length, 0.4 cm in diameter.            Texture: Glabrous. Color: N79A.        -   Buds.—Dimensions: 4 cm in length, 0.6 cm in width. Shape:            Ellipsoid. Surface: Smooth, appears slightly farinaceous.            Color: 46A.        -   Bracteoles.—Number: 3, fused at base. Dimensions: 10 mm in            length, 5 mm in width. Shape: Elliptic, apex acute, base            truncate. Color: Adaxial surface 46A, abaxial surface 50B.            Surface, texture: Glossy, waxy.        -   Sepals.—Number: 3, fused at base. Dimensions: 18 mm in            length, 9 mm in width. Shape: Elliptic, apex acute, base            truncate. Color: Adaxial surface 46A, abaxial surface 50B.            Surface texture: Farinaceous, waxy.        -   Petals.—Number: 3, fused at base. Dimensions: 4.5 cm to 5.5            cm in length, 13 mm in width. Shape: Elongate elliptic, apex            acute, base truncate. Margin: Smooth, entire. Color (both            surfaces): 46A. Surface: Glabrous.        -   Outer staminodes.—Number: 4, fused at base. Shape,            dimensions: 3 staminodes broad obovate, apex round, base            truncate, 8 cm in length, 6.5 cm in width; 1 staminode            (labellum) spatulate, recurving, 8 cm in length, 3.5 cm in            width. Margin: Smooth, entire, undulating. Color (both            surfaces): 45B. Surface: Glabrous.        -   Inner staminode (anther bearing).—Shape: Spatulate, apex            round, base truncate. Dimensions: 6.0 cm to 6.5 cm in            length, 1.5 cm in width. Margin: Smooth, entire. Color (both            surfaces): 45B. Surface: Glabrous.        -   Inner petaloid style.—Shape: Falcate, apex truncate, base            truncate. Dimensions: 6.0 cm in length, 5 mm in width.            Margin: Smooth, entire. Color (both surfaces): 45B. Surface:            Glabrous.-   Reproductive organs:    -   -   Stamens.—1 petaloid anther-bearing staminode as above.        -   Anthers.—Not always present; where present, fused along half            anther length to concave margin of staminode.        -   Anther shape.—Rectangular.        -   Anther dimensions.—Length 12 mm, width 1.5 mm.        -   Color.—161A.        -   Pollen amount.—Slight, appears to transfer to style before            flower opens.        -   Pollen color.—161A.        -   Style, stigma.—1 petaloid style as above; stigma absent.        -   Ovary.—Inferior, 3-carpellate, surface rough with many tiny            pinhead-like protrusions, color 59B.-   Seed: Seed has not been observed.

COMPARISON TO PARENTAL VARIETY AND COMMERCIAL VARIETY

The variety of Canna which is considered by the inventor to most closelyresemble ‘Fire Dragon’ is the female parent plant, Canna ‘The President’(unpatented). In comparison, the flowers of ‘Fire Dragon’ areself-cleaning, while the old flowers of ‘The President’ remain heldwithin the inflorescence. In addition, the flowers of ‘Fire Dragon’ areentirely scarlet in color, whereas the flowers of ‘The President’exhibit a yellow ribbon effect along the staminode margins together withan orange throat or staminode bases.

Three other varieties of red-flowered Canna are known to the inventorand may be compared as follows. Canna ‘Red King Humbert’ bears purescarlet flowers on bronze-purple foliage. The two varieties Canna ‘SouthPacific Scarlet’ and Canna ‘Tropical Red’ are raised from seed andexhibit red flowers with evident orange throats or staminode bases. Theflowers of ‘Fire Dragon’ are entirely scarlet in color with mid-greencolored foliage.

I claim:
 1. A new and distinct variety of Canna plant named ‘FireDragon’ as shown and described herein.